TRIPOLI, Lebanon — A Libyan security official said four foreigners have been arrested on suspicion of distributing books about Christianity and proselytizing, a crime in the predominantly Muslim North African county.
Police spokesman Hussein bin Hamid said Saturday the four were arrested in the eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday.
The group is under investigation for printing and distributing books that proselytize Christianity. Police say they found 45,000 books in their possession and that another 25,000 have already been distributed.
Bin Hamid says an Egyptian man is among the four, and that embassy officials have visited them. He would not say where they are being held.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed that a dual national Swedish-American citizen was arrested while traveling on a U.S. passport. The U.S. Embassy in Libya declined comment.